A devastating train crash on a Bedfordshire railway line has left one dead and dozens injured after the driver passed a red signal before the fatal collision, according to a preliminary report. Train driver Shaun Burton, 60, was killed in the accident, which occurred at 17:15 BST on Friday.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) found that a fault with the Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment caused the stationary train ahead of Burton's train to come to an unexpected stop. The signal behind this stationary train had turned red, but Burton's train passed it before activating its brakes for nine seconds.
The RAIB investigation will examine the actions of those involved and any factors that may have influenced them. ASLEF, the union representing train drivers, has suggested that a more advanced system could have prevented the crash: "If TPWS had been installed in this location, it's possible that the tragedy would not have occurred."
The collision happened at around 17:15 BST on Friday when two trains – the 16:40 Corby service and the 15:50 Nottingham train – crashed just south of Elstow. Emergency services responded rapidly to the scene, with air ambulances and over 70 firefighters deployed.